Sony Sending Out PlayStation Now Beta Invites

Users on the ever-vigilant gaming forum NeoGAF have reported that Sony has begun sending out beta test invites for its PlayStation Now service.

Here's the email in full:

The email promises "instant access to a library of PlayStation 3 titles with no downloads or trips to the store required." There's no mention of PlayStation or PlayStation 2 titles, sadly -- something that's sure to upset the rest of Team USG after we spent all that time on those two articles -- but this is a beta test, after all, and consequently may only play host to a limited selection of content.

The beta test also appears to be for PS3 only rather than PS4 or Vita, and Sony recommends connecting your PS3 to the Internet via Ethernet cable rather than using Wi-Fi for optimum performance. A 5Mbps connection or better is also recommended -- the service involves streaming HD video, after all, and if you're playing a game you doubtless want as little latency as possible.

Digital Foundry revealed over at our sister site Eurogamer earlier this month that Sony has developed brand new PS3 hardware to power the PlayStation Now service -- actually racks of eight customized console motherboards built into single server units rather than individual retail systems. The reason for this was partly practicalities -- a single PS3 console can draw up to 80W from the mains, let alone the sheer physical space required to house enough PS3s for all the potential users of PlayStation Now -- and partly to allow Sony the opportunity to subtly tweak the PS3 hardware in order to minimize latency, both in terms of the video coming to the player's console, and the player's inputs being communicated to the server.

Many of the NeoGAF users who report having received the beta invite messages had previously signed up on this page, though others reported receiving the email out of the blue as part of what appeared to be a random selection process. The sign-up page is still open, so if you want to improve your chances of going hands-on with this potentially exciting new arm of PlayStation gaming, it certainly can't hurt to sign yourself up. Do note, however, that receiving the email itself won't get you straight into the beta -- you'll have to accept the Beta terms and conditions and await a redemption code before you can get started.

Are you looking forward to PlayStation Now? What games would you like to revisit -- or perhaps discover for the first time?

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@briankvalheim70 Well I usually take a wait and see approach. I am sure Sony is aware about OnLive's problems but they also have more capital to spend and probably looked at the failures of that and will learn upon them. Plus newer tech comes out everyday and Sony is usually on the cutting edge. So I'm not going to drive a nail in the coffin till I see it and read reviews after it is fully implemented.

@cldmstrsn They already stated that they want a 5mb, HARD WIRED connection to use the service. Hard wired alone shows you that they too know they need a better infrastructure than what is currently available. I will test it though and see how it goes.